×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Advancing with aid of technology

Chess Checks
Last Updated 23 May 2015, 17:16 IST

Chess is one of the games to benefit immensely with technological advances, especially with advent of computers and internet. Previously players would be armed with suitcases of notebooks and self-made databases in book forms which they would cart from tournament to tournament but these days, a slim notebook laptop carries their world.

The game which follows is from a unique and innovative format played every year at Leon where players could consult their computers during the game. What is interesting is the fact that both players were world champions and the way they referred and used the computers is an indication that the younger one, Viswanathan Anand, was more comfortable and efficient in using the machine than the veteran, Anatoly Karpov.
White: Anatoly Karpov – Black: Viswanathan Anand Leon, Man+Comp, 1999
Queen’s Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 .Be7
Black decides to retreat. Other options were 6. ..Nc6 or 6. ..Qe7
7.Nc3 0–0 8.e4 d5 9.cxd5 Bxf1 10.Kxf1
White has lost the privilege to castle
10. ..exd5 11.e5 Ne4 12.Kg2
If 12.Qe2 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Qd7 14.Kg2 Nc6 was played in a previous game and so was 12.Rc1 c5 13.Kg2 Nc6
12...c5.

A good choice of opening line by Anand. If 12...Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Nc6 14.Re1 Qd7 15.Rc1
13.Qe2 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Qd7 15.Rhe1 Qe6 16.Ng1. Retreating to his original square to restart his journey, probably to play 16.Nh3
16. ..Nc6 17.dxc5

If 17.Rad1 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Bb4 19.Rf1 Nxd4 (19...f6 20.exf6 Qxe2 21.Nxe2 gxf6 22.Nf4and White is better ) 20.Rxd4 Bc3 21.Rh4 Qxe5  22.Qd3 g6 23.Nf3 Qg7 24.Qxd5 Rad8
17...d4 18.Bd2
It is interesting to note that so far the players are still playing previously played moves and have had access to the computers to check on games following this particular line
18. ..Bxc5 19.f4

Karpov is the first one to deviate as he plays a novelty here. If 19.Qe4 Rfe8 20.f4 Rad8 21.Nf3 d3 22.Ng5
19...d3
A super pawn advance right in to enemy territory.
20.Qe4. If 20.Qxd3 Rad8 21.Qe2 Qd5+ 22.Nf3 Nd4 23.Qd3 Nxf3 24.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Rxd2

20...Rad8 21.Nf3
If 21.f5 Qd5 22.Nf3 Nd4
21...Nd4 22.Nxd4 Rxd4
Black is trying to extend his territory
23.Qf3 Rfd8 24.f5 Qd5
Inviting the exchange of queens
25.Rad1 a5
Black decides to push on the queen-side
26.Qxd5

White now decides to trade queens. If 26.e6 fxe6 (26...Qxf3+ 27.Kxf3 fxe6 (27...R4d5 28.g4) 28.Rxe6 Kf7 29.Rde1 R8d7) 27.Rxe6 a4 And if 26.Be3 Re4 27.Bxc5 Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Qxc5
26...R4xd5 27.Re4. If 27.Bc3 Rc8
27...Re8

Diagram 1

28.Bc3. A blunder! White had better prospects to save the game with 28.Rde1 f6 29.exf6 Rxe4 30.Rxe4 Rxf5 31.Re8+ Kf7 32.fxg7 Rf2+ 33.Kh3 Kxg7 34.Bc3+
28...f6 29.e6 Rxf5 30.Rxd3 Rf2+
Invading the seventh rank
31.Kh3 Rxa2
White now loses the second pawn
 32.Rd7. White also infiltrates on to the seventh rank but it is a trifle late now! If 32.Rd2 Ra3 33.Rb2 f5 And if 32.g4 Rc2 33.Bd2 Ba3
32...h5 33.g4 Ra3 34.Kh4 Rxb3 35.Bd2 and White resigned.
0–1

Diagram 2

1.Rxh7+ Kg5
If 1...Kxh7 2.Qf7+ Kh6 3.Qxg6 checkmate
2.Qd5+ Kf6 3.Rf7 checkmate.


ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 23 May 2015, 17:16 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT